This is a drug addict who robbed a pharmacy with a replica gun – then tried to claim it was only a sock wrapped around his fingers with sticky tape.
Philip White, 31, was jailed for four years and eight months after raiding the store at Higher Bebington Health Centre at around 10.20pm on December 1 last year.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Salim Malik let him into the shop in Brackenwood Road, which was about to close, because White said he needed some Night Nurse.
But when the pharmacist’s back was turned, White, of Queens Road, Hoylake , said: “Put all the diazepam in a bag.”
Mr Malik thought White was joking, as he recognised his voice as that of a regular customer, and turned around smiling.
Robert Jones, prosecuting, said: “He said ‘do you think this is a joke, mate?’ and pulled out what Mr Malik described as a small black handgun, not much bigger than the palm of his hand.
Mr Jones said: “He said it had what looked like Sellotape around the barrel of the gun.
“He said it was similar to a compact handgun. The gun was pointed at his chest.”
Mr Malik handed over up to 36 containers of diazepam and White fled the store.
The defendant, appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool , admitted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.
He initially pleaded guilty on the basis that the imitation firearm was just a black sock wrapped around his fingers with Sellotape.
However, Judge Brian Cummings, QC, disagreed, and following a short adjournment, White accepted it was in fact a handgun.
The court heard White has 26 previous convictions for 30 offences. In 2005 he was locked up for five years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
In 2013 he was jailed for eight months after robbing a woman at an ATM in Birkenhead .
Mr Wood said the heroin addict came from a “socially very difficult background” and started abusing drugs when he was 13.
He said he became addicted to diazepam and took 14 tablets a day while receiving it on prescription from his GP, but this was withdrawn.
Mr Wood said: “He had not used for two days and he was desperate. He was in emotional turmoil because of his withdrawal symptoms.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/